Engine with reversible heads, couplings, and gaskets



C. B. LEACH ENGINE WITH REVERSIBLE HEADS, COUPLINGS AND GASKETS Original Filed July 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Dec; 6, 1960 c. B. LEACH 2,963,007

ENGINE WITH REVERSIBLE HEADS, COUPLINGS AND GASKETS Original Filed July 12, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Dec. 6, 1960 c, LEACH 2,963,007

ENGINE WITH REVERSIBLE HEADS, COUPLINGS AND GASKETS Original Filed July 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY United States Patent ENGINE WITH REVERSIBLE HEADS, COUPLINGS, AND GASKETS Clayton B. Leach, Pontiac, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,-a corporation of Delaware Claims. (Cl. 12341.74)

This application is a division of Serial No. 442,737 filed July 12, 1954, in the name of Clayton B. Leach, now Patent No. 2,853,063.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and has particular relation to a V type engine in which various parts of the engine are reversible so that only one kind of each is required for an engine employing more than one of each.

Heretofore, in the construction of V type engines, it has been necessary to make two or more of many parts which were very similar but not identical. Engine heads, for example, have been similar, intake manifold gaskets have been similar and water connections and conduits have been similar. However, it has been necessary to make right-hand and left-hand heads, manifolds, gaskets, conduits and connections. This requires excessive tooling, excessive inventory of parts for both production and service and greatly adds to the cost of building en-' glues.

It is now proposed to construct a V type engine in which the two heads for a single engine are of identical design. The heads are made of symmetrical design from one end to the other so that the singe head may become a right-hand head or a left-hand head for the same engine merely by reversing the head lengthwise. The heads are also provided with cooling liquid supply or distribution conduits which are identical. It is also proposed to employ the same manifold gasket between the heads and the inlet and water manifold for the engine. Such a gasket can be used on either side of the engine by reversing the gasket lengthwise and placing the same sides of the gasket in contact with the heads and the adjacent manifold surfaces. It is also proposed to provide a water or cooling liquid circulating pump which is so designed that the same coupling may be employed on either side of the engine to connect the outlet passages from the pump to the inlet openings in the heads.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view diagrammatically illustrating various features of an internal combustion engine embracing the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the engine through one of the engine heads. Figure 2 is taken substantially in the plane of line 22 on Figure 1.

Figure 2a is a plan view of one of the gaskets between the intake manifold and thecylinder head of the engine illustrated in Figure 2 and taken in the direction of arrows Za-Za of that figure.

Figure 3 is a front end view on a reduced scale of the engine disclosed by Figure l and illustrating the water pump and the water pump connections to the engine heads.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the engine heads as the latter might appear substantially in the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows thereon.

. Figure 5 is .a side elevational view of the inlet and heads. The openings 43 and 44 also are arranged equalcooling liquid manifold structure embraced in the engine disclosed by the preceding figures.

The engine 10 embracing the invention has an engine frame 11 which includes a cylinder block 12, heads 13 and 14, a fuel mixture inlet and cooling liquid outlet manifold 16 and a cooling liquid circulating pump 15. The block 12 has rows of cylinders 17 therein which are arranged in banks of cylinders 18 and 19 disposed in obliquely disposed relation to one another. The cylinders 17 receive reciprocable pistons 21 adapted to be connected to the crankshaft 22 of the engine by connecting rods 23. The banks of cylinders 18 and 19 have cooling liquid cavities 24 formed therein for cooling the pistons 21 and the cylinders 17. The heads 13 and 14 have cooling liquid cavities 26 therein for cooling the combustion chambers 27, the inlet valves 28, the exhaust valves 29 and the inlet and exhaust passages 31 and 32, respectively, for each of the cylinders 17. In the present instance the exhaust passages 32 extend from the exhaust ports for each exhaust valve 29, transversely across the cavity 26 and terminate in exhaust openings formed in the outside walls 33 of the heads 13 and 14. In the present instance there are separate exhaust passages 32 for each of the two end cylinders of each bank of cylinders and there are separate exhaust passages 32 for each of the two middle cylinders for each bank of cylinders for the engine. However, the separate passages 32 for the middle cylinders merge in a single outlet in each of the side walls 33. In the presentinstance by-pass passages 36 for the exhaust passages 32 for the two middle cylinders of each bank of cylinders also extend transversely across the heads 13 and 14 to the inner walls 34 of the heads 13 and 14 and there terminate in a single outlet opening in the side wall 34. The exhaust passages 32 and the inlet passages 31 and the by-pass passages 36 all terminate in openings in the side walls 33 and 34 which are equi-distant from or symmetrically with respect to median planes extending transversely through the engine heads from the upper to the lower walls thereof and between the two intermediate cylinders of each bank of cylinders of the engine and the combustion chambers 27 therefor.

The heads 13 and 14 also are provided with tubular columns 37 projecting through the cavities 26 from the upper to the lower walls of the heads and through which bolts 3-8 are adapted to project into threaded openings formed in the blocks '18 and 19 for securing the heads 13 and 14 in position upon the blocks. Each of the bolts 38 and the columns 37 are located at equal dis-- tance on opposite sides of or symmetrically with respect to the median planes of the heads 13 and 14. The heads 13 also have columns 39 projecting from the upper to the lower walls thereof and adjacent the inside walls 34. The columns 39 have openings therethrough for receiving push rods 41 for operating the valve operating mechanisms 42 for the inlet and exhaust valves 28 and 29 for each cylinder 17 of the engine. The columns 39 and the push rods 41 are all located equal distances on opposite sides of or symmetrically with respect to the median planes of the heads 13 and 14.

The combustion chambers 27, the inlet and exhaust valves 28 and 29' and the parts of the lower walls 48 which are adapted to cover the ends of the cylinders 17 also are arranged equal distances on the opposite sides of or symmetrically with respect to the median planes of the heads 13 and 14.

The heads 13 and 14 also have aligned openings 43 and 44 extending. transversely through the front and rear walls 46 and 47 thereof. The opening 43 in the frontwall of each head is for the purpose of supplying cooling liquid to the cooling liquid cavities 26 in the distances on opposite sides of and symmetrically with respect to the median planesof the heads 13 and 14.

The openings 43 in the front walls 46 of the heads 13 and 14 are adapted to have secured therein the enlarged ends of cooling liquid supply or distribution conduits 49. The conduits 49 extend throughout the length of the heads 13 and 14 and above the combustion chambers 27 and above the inner extremities of the exhaust passages 32, the inlet pasages 31 and the by-pass passages 36 and terminateadjacent the openings 44 in the rear walls 47 of the heads. The openings 44 and the adjacent ends of the conduits 49 are closed by sheet metal plugs 51 which are adapted to be pressed into the openings 44. The openings 43 and 44 are identical in size and shape so that the enlarged ends of the conduits 49 may be pressed into either of the openings 43 or 44. Likewise the plugs 51 may be inserted in either of the openings 43 or 44 in such manner as to close the openings and the adjacent ends of the conduits 49.

The cooling liquid supplied to the conduits 49 is distributed throughout the length of the conduits by spaced openings formed throughout the length of the conduits and in any suitable manner. In the present instance the openings are formed on opposite sides of each inlet and exhaust passage 31 and 32 and over the exhaust passages 32. Certain of the openings in the conduits 49 are indicated by the numerals 52. The cooling liquid supplied to the cavity 26 by the conduits 49 is exhausted from the heads 13 and 14 through openings 53 formed in the lower walls 48 of the heads 13 and 14 and in the upper walls 54 of the cylinder blocks 18 and 19. The cooling liquid so supplied is also exhausted through openings 56 and 57 in the side walls 34 of the heads and adjacent the end walls of the heads. The openings 53 and 56 and 57 are all disposed equal distances on opposite sides of or symmetrically with respect to the median planes of the heads 13 and 14.

The interior ventilation system for the engine involves introducing air through intake devices 58 to the compsrtments 59 within the covers 61 for the valve operating mechanisms 42 for the valves 28 and 29 for each cylinder 17 of the engine. The air so admitted to the compartments 59 is supplied to the camshaft gallery 62 of the engine through openings 63 and 64 adjacent the front and rear walls 46 and 47 of the heads and the inner side Walls 34 thereof. The passages 63 and 64 extend through the cooling liquid cavities 26 in the heads from the upper to the lower walls of the heads. The passages 6 and 64 are located at equal distances on opposite sides of or symmetrically with respect to the median planes of the heads 13 and 14.

It will be apparent that the heads 13 and 14 can be reversed on the engine 10 and that every part of the heads will a'ways be in the. same position with respect to the cylinders 17 of the engine. it is possible therefore to manufacture a single head for each bank of cylinders of the engine.

It is also apparent that the conduits 49 may be reversed in the heads 13 and 14 and that either of the openings 43 or 44 in the heads may serve as the inlet opening for supplying cooling liquid to the conduits 49. It is therefore possible to have a single design for the conduits 49.

The outer side walls of the heads 13 and 14 are adapted to have exhaust manifolds 66 and 67 secured thereto. The manifolds 66 and 67 have inlet passages 68 formed therein which are adapted to communicate with the exhaust passages 32 in the heads 13 and 14 on either side of the engine 16. The exhaust manifolds 66 and 67 also may be made reversible if this is desired so that only one inlet manifold is required for use on either side of the engine 10.

The inlet passages 31 which open through the inside walls 34 of each wall of the heads of which there is .1 s for, each. cylindemare adapted to, communicate with.

mixture supply passages 77 formed in the inlet manifold 16 for the engine 10. Themixture supply passages 77 terminate in side walls 78 extending along each side of the manifold 16 and adapted to be secured to the side wall 34 of the heads 13 and 14 by bolts adapted to pro- 'ect through openings 79 and recesses 81 formed in the side walls 78. The bolts are adapted to engage threaded openings formed in the inner side walls 34 of each of the heads 13 and 14. The threaded openings in the inner side walls 34 of the heads 13 and 14 are all located the same distances from and symmetrically with respect to the median planes of the heads 13 and 14.

The manifold 16 has a cooling liquid outlet passage 82 formed transversely thereacross at the front end thereof. The passage 82 also opens through the side walls 78 of the manifold 16 on opposite sides of the manifold 16 and in such position that the opposite ends of the passage 82 communicate with the outlet openings 56 at the front of each of the heads 13 and 14. The passage 82 has a discharge passage 83. adjacent the middle thereof for discharging cooling liquid from the heads 13 and 14 through the passage 82 and into the upper part of the radiator of the engine. It will be noted that the side walls 78 of the manifold 16 project rearwardly of the rearwardly disposed supply passages 77 to provide for the openings 79 at the rear of the manifold for receiving the bolts for securing the manifold to the heads 13 and 14. The bolt holes 79 in the side walls 78 at the rear of the manifold 16 are directly opposite the outlet passages 57 in the rear ends of the side walls 34 of the heads 13 and 14. The side walls 78 close the openings 57 thus preventing this flow of cooling fluid from the openings 57. Gasket means 86 may be inserted between the side walls 78 of the manifold 16 and the side walls 34 of the heads 13 and 14. Each of the gaskets 86 is provided with a centrally located opening 38a which will correspond to the manifold heating passage 88. Gasket openings 77a are provided so that they correspond with the manifold supply passages 77 and head inlet passages 31 and are therefore equally and oppositely spaced from the opening 88a. Bolt openings 79a are also provided through each gasket 86 and correspond with the bolt openings 79 of the manifold 16. The boTts projecting through the openings 79 at the rear ends of the side walls 78 of the manifold 16 will hold the gaskets 86 firmly in position over the openings 57. One end of each gasket 86 also has an opening 82:: which corresponds to the opening 82 in the intake manifold. The opposite end of the gasket has no opening such as opening 82a. Instead, the continuous portion at that end cooperates with the corresponding solid portion of the intake manifold to provide a closure for the cooling liquid passage 56 or 57 in the engine block which is to be blocked off by the installed manifold and gasket. One or the other of the cooling liquid openings 56 and 57 will be closed depending upon the orientation of the manifold and gaskets on the engine block, and the open one will communicate with manifold passage 82 through gasket opening 82a. If so desired the manifold 16 may be provided with manifold heating means indicated at 87. The manifold heating means 87 may be supplied with exhaust gas by the heating passage 88 extending transversely across the manifold 16 and having opposite ends terminating in the side walls 78 in such position as to communicate with the single outlet opening in each of the walls 34 which communicate with the by-pass passages 36 formed in the heads 13 and 14.

The heads 13 and 14 may be supplied with cooling liquid by a pump 15 located within the upper part of the timing chain cover 89. The pump 15 may have tangentially disposed outlet passages 91 and 92 leading from the discharge chamber or chambers thereof in diametrically opposed relation to one another. It will be noted that the outlet passages 91 and 92 are dis posed. in. different angular. relation to one-another with respect to the vertical plane of the engine 10. The outlet passage 91 extends substantially horizontally toward the inlet opening 43 in the head 13 whereas the outlet passage 92 is directed obliquely upwardly toward the inlet opening 43 in the head 14. Notwithstanding this difference in the angular positions of the outlet passages 91 and 92 it is proposed to provide angular couplings 93 that are identical in design and that may be secured to either of the heads 13 and 14 by diametrically opposed pairs of bolts 94. The bolts 94 are adapted to project through diametrically opposed openings in flanges 96 of the couplings 93 and into threaded openings formed in the front walls 46 of the heads 14. The openings in the flanges 96 are so arranged that the couplings can be rotated from one position to another and the same set of openings in the flanges 96 will be aligned with the openings in the front walls 46 of either of the heads 13 and 14. To accomplish such purpose the openings in the front walls 46 have been positioned at an angle X beyond the planes of the axes of the cylinders in each bank of cylinders 18 and 19. Corresponding openings have been provided in the rear walls 47 of each of the heads 13 and 14. It will be apparent that when the heads 13 and 14 are reversed that the angle X will be the same on each side of the engine except that the angles will be reversed with respect to the plane of the axes of the cylinders of each bank of cylinders. It will be apparent that when the couplings 93 are rotated about the axis of the openings 43 in the front walls of the heads 13 and 14 that the opposite ends of the couplings will correspond to the angle of either of the outlet passages 91 or 92 leading from the pump 15.

It will be apparent that only one head, one manifold gasket, one cooling liquid inlet conduit and one inlet coupling design may be required to supply two or more of each of such items for each engine manufactured.

I claim: 1

1. An internal combustion engine comprising an engine frame having obliquely disposed rows of cylinders formed therein and engine heads for said cylinders, said heads being formed to provide symmetrically disposed inlet passages opening through the inner side walls'of said heads so that said heads are reversible upon said rows of cylinders, an inlet manifold for said engine and having symmetrical supply passages formed therein and communicating on either side of said engine with said inlet passages in said heads, cooling liquid outlet openings formed in said inner side walls at opposite ends of said heads, said outlet openings being symmetrically disposed relative to said inlet passages in said inner side walls of said heads, a cooling liquid outlet manifold for said engine and communicating with said cooling liquid outlet openings at one end of the engine and at corre sponding ends of said heads, and means closing said outlet openings at the other end of the engine and the other ends of said heads.

2. An internal combustion engine as define by claim 1 and in which said cooling liquid outlet manifold and said means for closing said outlet openings at said other ends of said heads and said supply passages terminate on each side of said engine in wall means adapted to be secured to the inner side walls of said heads.

3. A manifold device for engines comprising a body having manifold passages formed transversely across said body and opening through opposite sides of said body for supplying a combustible mixture to said engine, said body being formed to provide another manifold passage extending transversely across one end of said body and adapted to communicate with engine cooling liquid circulating passages for circulating cooling liquid employed in the operation of said engine, said body also being formed to provide closure means disposed in the same relation to the other end of said body as the ends of said another manifold passage, said closure means being adapted to close other cooling liquid circulating passages in said engine.

4. A manifold device as defined by claim 3 and in which said body is an integral structure having oppositely disposed side walls through which said passages project, said closure means being formed as an extension of each of said side walls.

5. A manifold device for engines comprising a gasket having a plurality of symmetrically arranged manifold inlet openings formed therein and adapted to register with similar symmetrically arranged manifold inlet passages and head inlet passages of an engine, said gasket also being former to provide a cooling liquid outlet opening adapted to be aligned with cooling liquid passages in said engine, said gasket also being formed to extend beyond said openings to provide closure means for closing another cooling liquid passage in said engine, said extension of said gasket beyond said openings being in the same relation to said manifold inlet openings as said cooling liquid outlet opening is to said manifold inlet openings, whereby said closure means may be employed to close said another cooling liquid passage in said engine in the same relation to said manifold inlet openings as said cooling liquid outlet opening is to said manifold inlet openings and may be employed on either side of the linet manifold of said engine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,353,213 Brush Sept. 21, 1920 

